International SOS explained

International SOS
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founded:1985
Founders:Arnaud Vaissié
Pascal Rey-Herme
Hq Location City:London and Singapore
Area Served:Global
Owners:-->
Num Employees:10,994

International SOS is a health and security service firm. The company takes around four million assistance calls every year[1] and has almost two-thirds of the Fortune Global 500 companies as clients.[2]

Services

International SOS aims to reduce exposure to and mitigate health, wellbeing and security risks for organisations and their staff.[3] Their services include providing a feed of information on world events, assistance services, health consultancy and programmes, education, advice and medical equipment.[4] It advises on preventive programmes and assisting with emergency response for employees, including domestic workers, business travellers, expatriates and their dependents. Its centres are staffed by physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMT's, security specialists, operations managers, multilingual coordinators and logistics support personnel. It also has a global network of external service providers including specialist doctors, hospitals, ambulances, charter aircraft and security personnel.

The firm's Tracker service monitors the travel of 10 million people, helping organisations to know where their employees are in a crisis.[5] The firm joined risk management consultancy Control Risks in releasing an itinerary-forwarding feature TravelTracker in 2016.[6]

The firm operates air ambulances services out of South Africa, Singapore, China, Papua New Guinea, and the Middle East. It airlifted 18,000 emergency cases in 2008.[7]

Organisation

International SOS is a privately owned company. They work with educational organisations,[8] corporate clients (including the majority of the Fortune Global 500), corporate clients (including 89% of the Fortune Global 100 and 64% of Fortune Global 500), governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The firm has headquarters in Singapore and London. It operates worldwide via 81 offices and 26 assistance centres serving over 1,000 locations in 90 countries.[9]

The firm takes around 4 million assistance calls every year with 99 languages and dialects spoken in their Assistance Centres, clinics and offices.

History

Pascal Rey-Herme, a doctor, and Arnaud Vaissié, a businessman, founded PT Asih Eka Abadi a company registered in Indonesia (then called AEA International) in 1985 to provide medical assistance services to expatriate communities and international organisations in Southeast Asia. Over the following decade, the company grew from its base in Singapore and Indonesia into a pan-Asian corporation, with operations in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and mainland China. Key clients included oil and gas companies with operations in remote locations.

In 1998, AEA International acquired International SOS Assistance, a group of corporations founded in 1974 by Claude Giroux a Canadian entrepreneur, creating the largest medical assistance company in the world. Initially, it was known as AEA International SOS, and was renamed International SOS in 1999. The acquisition extended the company beyond Asia.

In 2012, International SOS moved its UK headquarters to Chiswick Business Park, West London.

Growth and acquisitions

In 2008 the firm launched a strategic alliance with Control Risks to offer combined medical and security services,[10] and acquired MedAire, a provider of remote medical services for aviation and maritime founded by Joan Sullivan Garrett.[11]

In 2009, the company acquired a majority stake in Abermed, a UK-based provider of occupational health and remote medical services to the energy sector.[12] In 2010, it developed a strategic alliance with RMSI, an international rapid deployment medical and rescue service, with activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Pakistan.

In 2011, it merged with VIPdesk, a North American provider of concierge services, customer care and loyalty programs, acquired the medical supplies division of SMI (Service Médical International), acquired of L.E. West, EMC, Shenton Pharmacy and Nutracare Pharma, and launched a joint venture in Brazil with International Health Care.

In 2012, it acquired EMSM, a concierge and lifestyle company in South Korea. And in 2013, it acquired Norwegian companies SBHT, KBHT, Haugaland HMS, and Nordic Medical Services (NMS), and partnered with Aerosafety, a medical and aviation safety equipment company in Brazil.

In 2014, it launched Response Services Australia, a provider of emergency response, rescue and recovery services, entered a partnership with AMAS medical Services in India, acquired Aeromed in Mozambique, and created strategic partnership with West African Rescue Association (WARA), a clinic and medical services company in West Africa.[13]

In 2016, it entered a strategic partnership with Everbridge.

In 2017, it entered a Duty of Care integration with Rocketrip, started joint venture partnerships with Global Excel and Iqarus, acquired International Health Solutions[14] and launched a digital consultation service from Aberdeen Health Centre.[15] It also started the world's first emotional support service for the mobile workforce.

In 2019, it took full responsibility of the services it was previously providing as part of the Control Risks joint venture, to provide its consolidated Security Services suite to clients.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it rapidly expanded its TeleConsultation services, part of its TeleHealth services, to over 30 countries.

Major assistance

International SOS has provided medical advice, assistance, and travel safety services during and after a number of major incidents.[16] These include the COVID-19 pandemic,[17] the Jakarta unrest, the Mumbai terrorist attacks by helping those directly impacted by the event,[18] and the Yemen crisis.[19]

It has provided service during disease crises, including the provided medical assistance during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 2003 SARS outbreak[20] and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.[21] [22] [23] It also provided assistance to victims of the 2002 Bali terrorist bombing.[24]

It has dealt with major natural disasters such as the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the 2005 Hurricane Wilma,[25] the 2010 Haiti earthquake,[26] the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami,[27] the 2014 Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu,[28] and the Sabah earthquake in Malaysia.[29]

The firm has also provided services to major sporting events such as the Summer Olympic Games in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012, and the 2010 Asian Games.[30]

In 2006, International SOS's medical transports became the first direct flights between mainland China and Taiwan to be flown since 1949.[31]

Awards

International SOS has received the following recognition and awards:

International SOS Foundation

The International SOS Foundation launched in March 2012 with a grant from International SOS as a registered charity that is a fully independent and non-profit organisation.[50]

The Foundation has the goal of improving the safety, security, health and welfare of people working abroad or on remote assignments through the study, understanding and mitigation of potential risks. It has published, and acts as a repository for, a number of academic papers, articles and advisory notes on these topics.[51]

In 2016, the Foundation introduced the Duty of Care Awards to recognise organisations and individuals who have made a significant contribution to protecting their staff as they travel and work overseas.[52]

In 2017, the Duty of Care Summit was launched, bringing together industry leaders to share best practices in the safety and security of the mobile and remote workforce; this event took place on the day of the Duty of Care Awards.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Interview: International SOS taps China market on B&R initiative - Xinhua English.news.cn. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324170151/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-03/24/c_137062661.htm. dead. March 24, 2018. xinhuanet.com. 2019-04-12.
  2. News: Risky business. The Economist. 0013-0613. 2016-07-19.
  3. Web site: The Times - Raconteur Business Risk Strategies. June 11, 2015. The Times - Raconteur Business Risk Strategies. The Times. July 19, 2016. September 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160918151854/https://www.internationalsos.com/~/media/corporate/files/documents/coverage/times_raconteur_businessrisk_internationalsosjune2015.pdf. dead.
  4. Web site: TRICARE Sends $269.1M SOS for Overseas Health Care. 2016-07-19.
  5. News: In Emergencies, Companies Are Turning to Employee-Tracking Services. Levere. Jane L.. 2015-01-26. The New York Times. 2016-07-19. 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: International SOS Releases Itinerary-Forwarding Feature: Business Travel News. businesstravelnews.com. en. 2019-04-12.
  7. Web site: Expat health care: who do you rely on in your darkest hour?. 23 July 2010 . 2016-07-19.
  8. Web site: Columbia releases new International Travel Planning Policy. Columbia Daily Spectator. 2016-07-19.
  9. Web site: Locations. internationalsos.com. 2016-07-19.
  10. Web site: Sorry there has been an error. www.continuitycentral.com.
  11. Web site: - MedAire, an International SOS Company, to Deliver New Levels of Medical Assistance . 2012-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110116060439/http://www.medaire.com/ISOS.asp . 2011-01-16 . dead .
  12. Web site: cmx . 2014-06-05 . NVM Private Equity-backed Abermed responds to International SOS . 2024-03-06 . NVM Private Equity . en-US.
  13. Web site: International SOS Refreshes Branding to Mark 30th Anniversary :: AD HOC NEWS. ad-hoc-news.de. ad-hoc-news.de. 2016-07-19. 2016-09-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20160921215843/http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/international-sos-refreshes-branding-to-mark-30th-anniversary--/de/News/40791639. dead.
  14. Web site: International SOS Buys International Health Solutions: Business Travel News. businesstravelnews.com. en. 2018-05-10.
  15. Web site: International SOS launches Digital Consultation Service from Aberdeen Health Centre . . March 28, 2017.
  16. News: International SOS Uses Its Global Reach. Veach. Emily. 2011-03-28. Wall Street Journal. 0099-9660. 2016-07-19.
  17. Web site: The New Era of Quarantine: A Muddled set of Travel Rules . Financial Times.
  18. Web site: Executives seek five-star security - FT.com. 2016-07-19.
  19. BBC News (2015) International SOS Regional Security Director Julian Moro on BBC World News. Available at: https://www.internationalsos.com/newsroom/news-releases/international-sos-regional-security-director-julian-moro-on-bbc-world-news-apr-16-2015 (Accessed: 28 July 2015)
  20. 3323337 . 15338533 . 10.3201/eid1007.030608 . 10 . Transporting patient with suspected SARS . 2004 . Emerging Infect. Dis. . 1325–6 . Tsai . SH . Tsang . CM . Wu . HR . Lu . LH . Pai . YC . Olsen . M . Chiu . WT. 7 .
  21. Downey, S. (2014) Ebola & Business Travel: What You Need to Know. Available at: http://blog.gbta.org/2014/10/09/ebola-business-travel-what-you-need-to-know/ (Accessed: 28 July 2015)
  22. Web site: Business in the time of Ebola. Fortune. en. 2020-01-15.
  23. RM Professional (2015) Getting Disasters Right. Available at: https://www.internationalsos.com/~/media/corporate/files/documents/coverage/rmpsum2015pp26_29.pdf (Accessed: 28 July 2015)
  24. Nishimoto . Erika . December 2002 . International SOS Mass Casualty Evacuation - Bali 12 Oct 2002 . Prehospital and Disaster Medicine . en . 17 . S2 . S21–S22 . 10.1017/S1049023X00009419 . 1049-023X.
  25. News: Britons stranded after Wilma hits. 2005-10-25. 2020-01-15. en-GB.
  26. News: For Travelers in Danger, Someone to Swoop In. Sharkey. Joe. 2010-01-18. The New York Times. 2020-01-15. en-US. 0362-4331.
  27. News: Foreign Companies Step Up Evacuation Efforts. Carey. Susan. 2011-03-18. Burton. Thomas M.. Wall Street Journal. 0099-9660. Maxwell. Kenneth. 2016-07-19.
  28. News: The healthcare company that is on constant alert . Financial Times . 16 April 2015 . 10 May 2015.
  29. Web site: Sabah quake: More bodies recovered and identification process still going on, says MOE. migration. 2015-06-06. The Straits Times. en. 2020-01-15.
  30. International SOS signs agreement with PICC (2010) Available at: http://www.imtj.co.uk/resources/press-releases/directory/?entryid134=283517&p=8 (Accessed: 28 July 2015)
  31. Web site: Assistance firm makes history with Taiwan airlifts. 19 October 2006 . 2016-08-23.
  32. Web site: Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Singapore – International Healthcare. ey.com. 2016-07-19. 2016-10-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20161007144245/http://www.ey.com/sg/en/about-us/entrepreneurship/entrepreneur-of-the-year/eoy_2009_winner_international_healthcare. dead.
  33. International SOS Wins EMMA Award for Thought Leadership. SOS. International. prnewswire.com. 2016-07-19.
  34. Web site: Business Travel Awards 2015: the winners Buying Business Travel. buyingbusinesstravel.com. 2016-07-19.
  35. Winners 2015 | Business Travel Awards 2015 (no date) Available at: http://www.businesstravelawards.com/winners-2015.asp (Accessed: 29 July 2015)
  36. Web site: 'Recognizing Great Behavior': Winners of 2016 ASAP Alliance Excellence Awards Receive Honors and Accolades for Innovative Problem-Solving at ASAP Global Alliance Summit - Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals. strategic-alliances.org. 2016-07-19. 2016-08-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817165804/http://www.strategic-alliances.org/blogpost/1143942/240643/Recognizing-Great-Behavior--Winners-of-2016-ASAP-Alliance-Excellence-Awards-Receive-Honors-and-Accolades-for-Innovative-Problem-Solving-at-ASAP-Global-Alliance-Summit. dead.
  37. Web site: Risk Management Awards. www.cirmagazine.com. 2020-01-15.
  38. Web site: Meet the Winners of the 2017 FEM EMEA EMMAs!. Management. The Forum for Expatriate. 2017-11-13. The Forum for Expatriate Management. en. 2020-01-15.
  39. Web site: FEM AMERICAS 2020 - Page not found. Ltd. DVV Media HR Group. americas.forum-expat-management.com. en. 2020-01-15.
  40. Web site: Meet the Winners of the 2018 FEM Americas EMMAs . 29 May 2018 . Forum Expatiate Management.
  41. Web site: Aspire Lifestyles Official Concierge Partner . The Worlds 50 Best.
  42. Web site: Fortune Global Forum 2018 . Fortune Conferences.
  43. Web site: Business Travel Awards 2019: Winners revealed . Business Travel News Europe.
  44. Web site: Airlines, members in AACO, select MedAire to support their quest in maintaining the highest safety and security standards . AACO . February 18, 2019.
  45. Web site: Vanguard Awards . 12 June 2019 . International Stability Awards.
  46. Web site: Meet FEM's fabulous 2019 APAC EMMAs winners . 6 September 2019 . Forum Expatriation Management.
  47. Web site: INTERNATIONALSOS.COM Energy, Healthcare, Mining . TopEmployers . 2020-09-16 . 2020-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200917004806/https://www.top-employers.com/en-GB/companyprofiles/za/internationalsos.com/ . dead .
  48. Web site: International SOS . TopEmployers . 2020-09-16 . 2021-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210829025155/https://www.top-employers.com/en-GB/companyprofiles/gb/international-sos/ . dead .
  49. Web site: Aspire Lifestyles Official Concierge Partner . The Worlds Best 50.
  50. Web site: international sos foundation. internationalsosfoundation.org. 2016-07-19.
  51. Web site: Menu. internationalsosfoundation.org. 2016-07-19.
  52. Global Duty of Care Awards, International SOS Foundation Call for Nominations Business Wire. businesswire.com. 15 February 2016 . 2016-07-19.

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